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November 6, 2015 10:53 AM Subscribe
See drops of water 'trampoline' higher and higher At first, the drop rested motionless on the surface, but at around a twentieth of normal atmospheric pressure it suddenly jumped up. After a short leap the droplet eventually landed on the surface again, only to jump up again—even higher than the first time.
How did the phrase "postdoctoral students" come into being? And why is it being so widely used?
It's not a strange neologism or anything. It just refers to people who have their doctoral degrees already and are working in academic research, rather than teaching as adjuncts, visiting-assistant-school-mascot professors or tenure-track professors.
posted by clockzero at 1:14 PM on November 6, 2015
It's not a strange neologism or anything. It just refers to people who have their doctoral degrees already and are working in academic research, rather than teaching as adjuncts, visiting-assistant-school-mascot professors or tenure-track professors.
posted by clockzero at 1:14 PM on November 6, 2015
But they aren't students. They're postdocs. Referring to postdocs as "students" devalues their work and their accomplishments.
This is a derail though. The research seems pretty cool. As the journal article says, "[trampolining droplets] thus seemingly violate the second law of thermodynamics"
posted by miguelcervantes at 1:22 PM on November 6, 2015 [4 favorites]
This is a derail though. The research seems pretty cool. As the journal article says, "[trampolining droplets] thus seemingly violate the second law of thermodynamics"
posted by miguelcervantes at 1:22 PM on November 6, 2015 [4 favorites]
Pretty neat. It'd be interesting to see what happens once the energy involved no longer supports the trampolining. Do the drops evaporate, sublimate, freeze and stop bouncing? I quickly skimmed the Nature paper but didn't see an answer.
posted by exogenous at 1:38 PM on November 6, 2015
posted by exogenous at 1:38 PM on November 6, 2015
But they aren't students. They're postdocs. Referring to postdocs as "students" devalues their work and their accomplishments.
Oh, I see what you mean. That's a good question, why some categorize them as post-doctoral researchers and others as post-doctoral students.
posted by clockzero at 2:18 PM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Oh, I see what you mean. That's a good question, why some categorize them as post-doctoral researchers and others as post-doctoral students.
posted by clockzero at 2:18 PM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
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How did the phrase "postdoctoral students" come into being? And why is it being so widely used?
posted by miguelcervantes at 11:23 AM on November 6, 2015